Houston Social Media Marketing Mistakes Your Business Could Be Making
Social media marketing can help any business reach into a new, engaging customer base that previously was not possible. It has become an essential piece of interaction, branding, and customer service, to the point that not using it is detrimental to continued business growth. Sadly, most businesses fail to utilize social media marketing. Doing so can leave them crippled when compared with other companies in the same industry or niche. Understanding these mistakes is the first step in making the most out of social media’s many benefits. Learn what they are, know how to avoid them, and create a social media presence that leads to maximum conversion and a stronger, more dedicated following. Leveraging social media marketing is not only possible, but anyone can do it regardless of their business or industry.
Not Using Social Media At All
The most significant mistake is ignoring social media altogether. Some business owners see social media as unnecessary, wasteful or non-profitable. For them, it is just a way to post photos or talk with customers. For those who run things using the old-school style, social media is not worth the time or effort. In today’s new-school atmosphere, you have to do more than have a great looking storefront, offering exceptional services. People are far too attached to the online world to rely on word of mouth alone. If they want something, they are going to look for it online first. If they can’t find it, they may overlook the business entirely. Social media marketing is as effective (if not more so) as any other type of advertisement. It connects with potential customers, helps to spread information, maintain customer connections, and deal with current issues in real time. Social media marketing is a unique system that can massively benefit any business.
Negative Reactions
In the past, when a customer had a problem with a product or service, they returned it and worked out an exchange or received a refund. Today, they take to social media with a passion rivaled by none. They do not have to be justified in their passion; all they have to do is complain, and the company receives a virtual black eye. Now, for a company that is active in social media marketing, this is a great chance to possibly meet the angered customer’s need and also maybe earn a few new customers in the process. At this moment, countering the customer with more negativity will not help; in fact, it will make it worse. It might feel good for a moment, but it is unprofessional, and it could cause others to view the business unfavorably. Instead, use the social media platform to respond positively, acknowledging the unhappy customer, apologizing that their needs were not met, stating facts, and then helping them to feel you are doing all you can to find a reasonable solution that will satisfy them. Also, do not delete previous conversations as this can look like you are trying to hide something from the public eye. Social media marketing is all about perception, and virtual black eyes are hard to fix.
Not Knowing the Differences Between Platforms
Each social media platform is different. Instagram is best for photos, while Twitter is perfect for small snips of information and Conversations. Facebook does a little of both while going more in-depth. Beyond all of that, the way one interacts with customers is unique. Building content on a specific platform requires its own plan. A plan for Instagram is not going to work on Twitter, nor will it work on Facebook or any other social media site. Learning these differences is necessary for managing a successful social media marketing plan. Using the same content on all of the platforms will not work. The audiences for each are different, and the same goes for the connection possibilities with each of them. To see the best results, work with the platforms on an individual level. See what strategies work best and implement them.
Failing To Personalize
When people visit social media platforms, they expect personalized interactions and content. They want to see something that they are not going to see anywhere else, and they want the brand to deliver it in their own way. Sadly, automated and plain responses and posts are all too common. Businesses will use an automated system or follow some set framework for their posts, failing to do anything outside of that. That can help to spread information, but it fails to engage or interest an audience. Ultimately the message for the company will be empty and will get overlooked, wasting time and money. Giving each post its own image, connecting it with the brand, can make a massive difference in the virtual perception. It helps to differentiate the business, giving it a voice, making it personable and connecting the customer on a more intimate level. That might not seem like much, but, to customers and clients, it can make the business stand out. It creates an appeal and loyalty that is hard to find.
Having No Plan
Just randomly posting on social media platforms is not going to be successful. Like any other type of marketing, a strategy is important to succeed. Developing an effective plan relies on current knowledge of each platform, knowing your customer base, and strategic content aimed to meet their needs accordingly. Working without a plan is a recipe for failure. Instead of attracting new audiences and retaining current ones, nothing may happen. People may ignore the page entirely, or it may receive negative attention. Plans are the building blocks of success. Planning is the best way to avoid unnecessary risks and help you stay focused on the task at hand. Yes, things may not go according to plan every time, but the chance of succeeding is higher than going in without a plan.
Ultimately, remember that every plan is different. A method for one business may not work for another. For that reason, every company needs to create a plan around who they are, what they want to achieve, and what their customer base needs. A successful strategy can work as a layout, but it has to change to fit the individual business. Every business can learn from these five social media marketing mistakes. These are the most common, and each of them is entirely avoidable. If you want to see the best results from social media, it is essential to know how each platform works, who uses the platforms, how to use the platform efficiently, and then following a plan of action. Any business can use social media to help boost their marketing efforts; for some, they will find that social media marketing is more useful than almost every other marketing plan.
And finally, connecting with customers has become easier than ever as most everyone has a phone with them throughout the day. It is time to embrace the change and make social media marketing part of your business plan. Avoiding these five social media marketing mistakes will help keep you ahead of the other businesses and make you relevant to your customers.
Call or contact SEO Houston Pros to learn more about starting a social media marketing campaign.
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